Thermoelectric pyrometer



Feb. 21, 19248.

R. P. BROWN THERMOELECTRIC PYROMETER Filed Aug. 7. 19,23

4 MVA uw 00M ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2l, 1928..

". F E e RICHARD P. BROWN,'OF.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BROWN INSTRUMENT COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONDF PENNSYLVANIA.

THERMOELECTRIC PYROMETER.

Application mea 'August 7;, 192s. serial No. 656,305.

' Some ofthe objects of the presentinvention are to provide an improved thermoelectric pyrometer; to provide a thermoelectric pyrometer whereby an average condition can be determined from a lurality of devices responsive to that con ition; to provide a thermoelectric pyrometer so arranged and 'constructed as to indicate vthe average temperature of a furnace or other hot zone; to

provide a thermoelectric pyrometer including a plurality of thermocouples so arranged and combined as to indicate on the pyrometer the average of the temperatures to which the aforesaid thermocouples are subject; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear. l

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side elevation in part section of a ythermoelectric pyrometer embodying one form of the present invention and shown passing through a furnace wall; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig..

' 3 represents a side elevation also in part section and showing another form of the invention. t

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention comprises a thermoelectric pyrometer including an electrical measuring instrument 10, such, for exam le, as a milli-voltmeter or any other suita le electricinstrument for indicatin tures, voltage or any other quantity or condition to be measured. In addition to the instrument 10, -the pyrometric system includes an electrical circuit 11, for connecting the instrument with the thermoelectric cou le or other device whichis responsive to t e temperature to be measured.

For the purpose of taking readings or in` dicating an average temperature in a furnace, the pyrometric system of the present invention includes a'plurality of thermocouples 12, 13, 14 and 15, all of which in the present instance are enclosed in a protecting tube 16 which projects through the wall 17 of a furnace and 1s therebywithin the hot` zone of the furnace. The protecting tube 1 6 some twenty feet in length, while the en-' closed thermocou les are of varying lengths.

may be of any suitable lenh to properly" coverthe desired hot zone,

ut where it is located within the last pass of a boiler in a power plant, this protecting tube 16 is Thus, for examp e, the thermocouple 12A extempera- `thermocouple have t tends substantially throughout the length of the tube 16; the thermocouple 13 exten'ds for example, three-quarters of the length of the tube 16; the'thermocouple 14 extends, for example, one-half the length of the tube 16; and the thermocouple 15 extends, for example, one-quarter of the length of the tube 16. In this way, allowance is made for varying temperatures throughout the pass of the boiler, and each thermocouple reples to the instrument 10 to give the average temperature of the furnace, the terminals of the respective thermocouples are preferably, and as shown in Fig. 1, connected in multiple with the circuit 11 which. includes the instrument 10. Thus, thermocouple A. has its terminal 18 connected by conductor 19 to the circuit, and terminal 20 connected to a common conductor 21, to which the respective terminal wires 22, 23 and 24 join from one terminal of each of the `other thermocou les. The conductors 25, 26 and 27 connect trhe remaining terminal of each of the thermocouples tothe side of the circuit including the wire 19, and thus complete the multiple circuit. In so connecting the plurality of thermocouples to the instrument 10 to give a reading which is a true average of the temperatures to which the four thermocou les are exposed each lIie same internal resistance, say, for example, .932 ohms. The means `for providin Vthe same internal resistance for each ermocouple consists of constructing the several thermocouples of .different size thermocouple Wire, and in this "instance the long thermocouple 12 is formed p .of No. 8 gauge Chromel and Constantan Chromel and Constantan wire. Of course, the material of the thermocouple wire can be any suitable for the purpose.

The fact that an average oi the temperatures to which the thermocouples 12, 13, 14,

and are exposed can be obtained with the thermocouples connected in multiple to the l A the following measuring instrument will be apparent from explanation: Assume that E represents the velectromotive orce impressed on the Icircuit 11 by the conjoint action of the four. thermocouples, and' that R represents the resistance of the circuit 11 includ# ing the instrument 10 andthe'conductor portions of the circuit 11 between the instru. ment terminals and the points at which those conductors are connected'to the conductors -19 and 21, and that I represents the current flowing through the' instrument.l 'Assume further that force, and that 7' represents the internal resistance of the thermocouple 12; and that respectively,

Im represents the current flowingthrough the thermocouple 12; and that E13, E, andv E1 respectively, represent the electromotive forces oi the couples 13,14, and.15, and that I, I, and I1li represent through the thermocouples 13, 14, A and 15 ances o each 15 is^1, the saine as the resistance of the ythernriocouple 12.` vFrom these assumptions and the well known laws governing the -revasi lations between voltage drops, resistances, ilnd currentstrengthsin electric circuits, we

ave:

It will be understood, of course, that in the case of any thermocouple 12,

than' the other thermocou les, the'electro-v thermocouple, for exam le the which is suiciently colder motive force E12 of theft ermocouplewill be smaller than E, and the current ilow I1? willthenbe negative in the equation I E1" I1z'r=E.

From the equations given above, by simple algebra the following equationmay readily y be derived:

EHEHEHELI@ since the left hand number of the iastequation is the average of the electromotive forces of the four thermocouples and the is a mesma, it follows that the current I owng through the instrument 10 is proportional to the average expression R+ E12 represents the electroniotive the currents iowing and that the internal resists" of the thermocouples 13, 14, and

Athermocouples of l `v from the fact Vthat if any' shown in Fig.

of the electromotive forcesof the diierent thermocouples, and hence to the temperatures to which they are subjected. It will be understood, of course that represents the joint or aggregate resistance of the four therniocouples when connected in parallel,

.and that the expression R-lrepresents thetotal resistance of the meter circuit for which the meter should be calibrated. If R is very large with reference to r, as would ordinarily be the case, the instrument will indicate with suiicient accuracy the teinperature to which any one thermocouple issubjected, if the others are `disconnected. from the instrument, and,'of course, Will indicate the average temperature of two or.

three of the` thermocouples if two lor one of the four shown a're disconnected.

Vhere, as will often be the case, the tem-' peratures to which the different therm0. couples are subjected are all of .the same order, ,the instrument range will be approximately the same with a single thermocou le connected to the instrument 'as when a p u- Arality of the thermocouples .are\connected in arallel to the instrument. If 'in determining furnace conditions by temperature observations at diierent points, it is desirable t0 give more weight to the temperature at one point of observation than at another, this result can be'obtained with the thermocouples connected in parallel, by makingthe .internal resistance of the thermocouple at the one point less than the internal resistance of thel thermocouple at the-other point.' This produces a change in the' instrument readings which is obviously a definite function of the l difference in the internal Aresistances oi the two thermocouples.' Inv general, however,`

'I consider it practically desirableto Vuse ances in parallel their terminals connected in a series circuit 31 with the electric measuring instrument -32. In view of this circuit arrangement it is necessary in order to 'accurately indicate the thermoelectric quantities, the instrument 32 must be capable of res ondinlto a voltequal to four times t le E. F.-of a single `tliermocou le, as will be readily understood. vantage of a series circuit' in a p ome `c system of this character isfthat -a thermoooiiple burns out during'thn -lic operation of the furnace the entire circuit of the system is open, and of course it follows that it has the disadvantage that the whole equipment fails to function should one thermocouxle burn out.

Although o y two forms are shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, but might be a phed in various forms without departing om the spirit of the invention or the scope of .the a pended claims.

Having fuily descri ed my invention, what I claim is:

1. Means for determining average teln perature conditions at different oints in a' furnace zone comprising in com ination a plurality of thermocouples adapted `to be located one at each of said points and of deiinitl1 related internal resistances, an electri measuring instrument and means connecting said thermocouples in multiple "to said instrument.

2. Means for determining average temperature conditions at different oints in a furnace zone comprising in com ination a plurality of thermocouples adapted to be located one at each of said points and all of the same internal resistances, an electrical measuring instrument and means Vconnecting said thermocouples in multiple to said instrument.

3. In a pyrometric system, the combination of an electricalA measuring instrument, an 'electrical circuit -including said instrument, a plurality of thermocouples of different length arranged to be located in a heated zone, eachof said thermocouples being constructed of' diierent size wire than any of the othersto provide the same internal resistance for each thermocouple, and being so connected in multiple in said circuitV that the simultaneous flmctioning of said thermocoules causes said mstrum' ent to respond to e average-electrical action of all of said thermocouples.

4. In a pyrometric system, the combinaa protecting tube encl and being so connected in said circuit that said instrument indicates the average electrichl indication of all of said thermocou les.

6. In a pyrometric system the combination of an electrical measuring instrument, an electrical circuit including said instrument, Va plurality of thermocouples each having the same internal resistance, and a protecting tube enclosing all of said thermocouples, said thermocouples bein located at intervals along-the len of sai -tube,iand being connected in m ti le in said circuit so that said instrument in 'cates the average electrical indication of all of said thermocouples. n

L In a pyrometric system, the combinal tion of an electrical m instrument, an electrical circuit includ' said meter, a plurality of diiferent size ermocouples .each having the same internal reslstan t all of sai thermocoup1es, said thermocoup es being lo- .cated at intervals along the length of Vsaid tube and be' so connected into said cir- ,cuit that said mstrument indicates the average; electrical indication of all of said thermoscouples.

1 del ia State of Pennsylvania this day of uly, 192e.

RICHARD P. BROWN.

ed at Philadelphia, mcy of Phuso 

